Photosynthetic production of molecular hydrogen (H2 ) by cyanobacteria and green algae is a potential source of renewable energy. These organisms are capable of water biophotolysis by taking advantage of photosynthetic apparatus that links water oxidation at Photosystem II and reduction of protons to H2 downstream of Photosystem I. Although the process has a theoretical potential to displace fossil fuels, photosynthetic H2 production in its current state is not yet efficient enough for industrial applications due to a number of physiological, biochemical, and engineering barriers. This article presents a short overview of the metabolic pathways and enzymes involved in H2 photoproduction in cyanobacteria and green algae and our present understanding of the mechanisms of this process. We also summarize recent advances in engineering photosynthetic cell factories capable of overcoming the major barriers to efficient and sustainable H2 production.To determine whether the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is affected by weight gain velocity (WGV) in adolescents with Down syndrome.
Retrospective case series.
We performed a retrospective case series of children with Down syndrome, aged 9-19, referred for polysomnography (PSG) due to suspected OSA at an academic children's hospital. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/d-luciferin.html We determined the velocity (slope of change) of yearly weight gain using a mixed effect linear regression model. Subsequently, we determined if velocity of yearly weight gain was greater in adolescents with severe OSA (apnea-hypopnea index?&gt;?10). Significance was set at P &lt;?.05.
A total of 77 adolescents with Down syndrome were identified. The average age was 12.5?years (standard deviation = 3.1); 44 (57%) were male and 46 (60%) were Hispanic. The majority, 51 (66%) had severe OSA. The velocity of yearly weight gain prior to PSG in Down syndrome adolescents was similar regardless of OSA severity (mean diff in weight gain at PSG between severe and nonsevere OSA = -1.42, 95% confidence interval = -5.8 to 2.9, P =?.52). Down syndrome adolescents with severe OSA weighed more at PSG (58.4?kg vs. 40.9?kg, P &lt;?.001) and all years prior to PSG. These findings remained even when controlling for age at PSG.
Severe OSA in adolescents with Down syndrome is associated with weight. There was no significant difference in WGV in children with Down syndrome with or without severe OSA.
3 Laryngoscope, 2021.
3 Laryngoscope, 2021.To determine if socioeconomic disadvantage impacts perioperative outcomes after tracheostomy.
We performed a retrospective case series of children who underwent tracheostomy. Children were divided into less and more disadvantaged groups based on their community's Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a validated socioeconomic vulnerability measure. Primary outcomes were the length of stay, total cost, in-hospital mortality, and 30-day all-cause readmission after tracheostomy placement. Length of stay was further analyzed using parametric survival analysis.
A total of 239 patients met inclusion criteria, with 153 (64%) residing in more disadvantaged communities. Children from more disadvantaged communities were less likely to be White (42% vs. 26%, P = .009) and more likely to have Medicaid coverage (90% vs. 62%, P?&lt;?.001). The two groups had similar medical complexity and comorbidities. The main outcome measures showed differences in median total length of stay (113 vs. 79?days, P = .04) and median total cost ($461 000 vs. $279 000, P = .01). Children with tracheostomies who were from more disadvantaged communities also had increased risk of prolonged hospitalizations (HR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.48-0.83, P = .001). Readmissions, mortality rates, and quality of life scores were similar between groups.
Community disadvantage was associated with differences in hospitalization length and costs after pediatric tracheostomy placement. Further research should continue to describe how health disparities impact children's safe and efficient care with tracheostomies.
4 Laryngoscope, 2021.
4 Laryngoscope, 2021.Little is known about human fathers' physiology near infants' births. This may represent a period during which paternal psychobiological axes are sensitive to fathers' new experiences of interacting with their newborns and that can provide insights on how individual differences in fathers' biology relate to post-partum parenting. Drawing on a sample of men in South Bend, IN (U.S.), we report results from a longitudinal study of fathers' oxytocin, cortisol, and testosterone (N = 211) responses to their first holding of their infants on the day of birth and men's reported caregiving and father-infant bonding at 2-4 months post-partum (N = 114). First-time fathers' oxytocin was higher following first holding of their newborns, compared to their pre-holding levels. Contrasting with prior results, fathers' percentage change in oxytocin did not differ based on skin-to-skin or standard holding. Drawing on psychobiological frameworks, we modeled the interactions for oxytocin reactivity with testosterone and cortisol reactivity, respectively, in predicting father-infant outcomes months later. We found significant cross-over interactions for (oxytocin × testosterone) in predicting fathers' later post-partum involvement and bonding. Specifically, we found that fathers whose testosterone declined during holding reported greater post-partum play if their oxytocin increased, compared to fathers who experienced increases in both hormones. We also observed a similar non-significant interaction for (oxytocin × cortisol) in predicting fathers' post-partum play. Fathers whose testosterone declined during holding also reported less involvement in direct caregiving and lower father-infant bonding if their oxytocin decreased but greater direct care and bonding if their testosterone increased and oxytocin decreased. The results inform our understanding of the developmental time course of men's physiological responsiveness to father-infant interaction and its relevance to later fathering behavior and family relationships.Arsenic in private drinking water wells is a significant problem across much of eastern Wisconsin, USA. The release mechanism and stratigraphic distribution of sulfide and iron (hydr)oxide sources of arsenic in bedrock aquifers are well understood for northeastern Wisconsin. However, recent geologic mapping has identified numerous small bedrock folds to the south, and the impact of these geologic structures on local groundwater flow and well contamination has been little studied. This paper examines the hydrologic and structural effects of the Beaver Dam anticline, southeast Wisconsin, on arsenic in groundwater in the region. Multivariate logistic regression shows wells near the Beaver Dam anticline are statistically more likely to detect arsenic in groundwater compared to wells farther away. Structural and hydrologic changes related to folding are interpreted to be the cause. Core drilled near the fold axis is heavily fractured, and many fractures are filled with sulfides. Elevated hydraulic conductivity estimates are also recorded near the fold axis, which may reflect a higher concentration of vertical fractures.